Method of and apparatus for dispensing plastic material from a container

ABSTRACT

A press is designed to accommodate a shipping container for plastic material of putty consistency; and to apply force to an inwardly displaceable end closure member of the container so as to place the contents thereof under pressure sufficient to extrude the contents through a discharge opening formed in the sidewall of the container immediately prior to initial actuation of the press, the press being portable and adapted to support the container at an inclination favorable to a clean controlled discharge of material onto a pallet or similar receptacle, for thereby eliminating the need for a valving member.

United States Patent [191 Linder et al.

[4 1 Mar. 12, 1974 Gerald D. Sjostrand, Fresno; Richard L. Carter,Huntington Beach, both of Calif.

[73] Assignee: Fibre Glass-Evercoat Company,

Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio [22] Filed: Nov. 10, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 305,301

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1918 White et a1. 222/390X l/l873 Tucker, 222/327 3,138,297 6/1964 McKinney 222/185 2,822,9592/1958 Soehnlen 222/327 3,174,677 3/1965 Ramstad 222/390 X PrimaryExaminer-Stanley H. Tollberg Assistant Examiner-Larry Martin Attorney,Agent, or Firm-J. Warren Kinney, Jr.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A press is designed to accommodate a shipping containerfor plastic material of putty consistency; and to apply force to aninwardly displaceable end closure member of the container so as to placethe contents thereof under pressure sufficient to extrude the contentsthrough a discharge opening formed in the sidewall of the containerimmediately prior to initial actuation of the press, the press beingportable and adapted to support the container at an inclinationfavorable to a clean controlled discharge of material onto a pallet orsimilar receptacle, for thereby eliminating the need for a valvingmember.

12 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DISPENSINGPLASTIC MATERIAL FROM A CONTAINER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Referenceis made to U.S. Pat. No. 3,664,508, assigned to the same assignee as theassignee of this invention, which discloses the nature of the containerand contents with which the present invention is concerned. Said patentsuggests the rudimental elements of a press, lacking details, forextruding from a container a heavy putty-like plastic material such aspolyestertype auto body filler or the like, by utilizing an end closureor lid of the container as a slidable plunger head in dispensing theplastic material for use through a valve associated with an opening inthe bottom of the container.

In the patented device, the container comprises a cylindrical bodyhaving circular top and bottom closure members to confine the material,the bottom member being fixed, and having a delivery opening which isinitially closed by a removable cap or plug which is replaced by aconventional valving member until the contents have been completelydispensed. The top closure member is defined as a lid of soft metal ordeformable plastic, including a deformable flange which normallyoverlies and seals against the upper beaded edge of the cylindricalcontainer wall. In practice, the container is placed in upright positionupon a support, with the cap or plug removed, and a downward force isapplied to the deformable lid for driving the lid bodily through thecontainer body in the direction of the bottom member, thereby tocompress the plastic material and dispense it through the uncappeddelivery opening. The material so dispensed gravitates verticallydownwardly through the delivery opening, to a location beneath thecontainer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION that plastic material dispensed therefrom willnot be discharged from the container except during those periods of timewhen a positive, deliberate expelling force is applied to the contentsvia the plunger. The material, when dispensed will be in full view ofthe operator, and completely under his control, to ensure accuracy inthe quantity of material delivered with the purpose of avoiding wastedue to excessive over-run. Furthermore, the delivery opening of thecontainer is advantageously relocated in the high side of the containeradjacent the bottom thereof, rather than in the bottom member thereof,to provide for a clean cutoff of material by an edge of the bottommember whenever the extrusion pressure upon the material is relaxed, asmay be determined by the operator with the delivery opening readily inview.

The press apparatus is portable, of rugged construction, and easily andsimply applicable to dispense plastic material from containerssuccessively without waste, loss of time, or clean-up problems.

A primary object of the invention is to teach a unique method ofselectively dispensing heavy plastic material from a container in whichthe material is delivered to the ultimate user thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of thepress apparatus of the present invention, with the pressure plate orplaten thereof shown in an advanced position.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-section of FIG. 1, showing the pressure plateor platen fully retracted, and the apparatus supporting a container ofplastic material in an inclined position of advantage for dispensing thematerial through a delivery opening in the container side wall, theopening being formed by a conventional triangular-cut beverage canopener.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, indicating a material-delivery stageof operation.

FIG. 4 is a view indicating a cut-off stage of material delivery.

FIG. 5 is a cross-section on line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a cross-section showing details of the pressure plate orplaten of the press apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Containers of the kind hereindisclosed are useful for the packaging, shipping, and dispensing ofplastic substances such as putty-like polyester or fiberglas fillers andthe like. The container usually is of hollow cylinder formation and mayconveniently be fabricated of any suitable sheet stock. Such a containeris denoted generally by the letter C upon the accompanying drawing, andwith the exception of the delivery opening, the herein-disclosedcontainer may be considered as similar to that of the aforesaid U.S.Pat. No. 3,664,508.

Briefly stated, the container comprises a cylindrical side wall 26, adisc-like bottom closure member 14 having no delivery opening, and a topclosure member or lid 30 capable of being advanced bodily through thecylindrical container in substantial accordance with the disclosure ofthe issued patent aforesaid, for extruding the contents of thecontainer. The bottom member 14 is permanentlv crimped or otherwisemounted in sealing relationship upon the container body, acircumferential crimp 20 being shown for this purpose. A bead or rollmay be provided circumferentially of the top opening of the container,as in the patented structure, if desired.

In the present embodiment, lid 30 includes a circumferential deformableplastic skirt 133 adapted to turn inwardly as the lid is advanced bodilythrough the container by press action, substantially as explained in theissued patent aforesaid, FIGS. 9 and 10. As therein explained, the lidremovably attaches itself to platen 22 as the platen advances, therebyto facilitate lid recovery upon retraction of the platen.

The apparatus for applying force to the container lid, may be in thegeneral form of a press which preferably is hand-operated through theagency of a long screw 24 having at one end a crank or turning device28. The lower or inner end of screw 24 has a rotary connection with thecenter point of the disc-like pressure plate or platen 22, which isdimensioned to fit nicely or snugly by preference, within the circularinner limit of the lid as initially applied to the container top. As theplaten is forced to advance flatwise against the outer face of the lid,by the action of screw 24 turning within the nut 50, the lid will yieldto the force of the screw and will advance downwardly bodily within thecontainer with a corresponding displacement of plastic material there--from through a discharge port as more fully hereinafter described.

The platen 22 is rotationally mounted upon an end of screw 24 in anysuitable manner. As shown in FIG. 6, the platen is cupped and providedwith a fixed inner disc 52 having an aperture 54 aligned with anaperture 56 formed centrally of the platen. A retainer screw 58 passingthrough said apertures may be threadedly anchored in the lower end ofpressure screw 24, allowing the platen to rotate thereon.

The reference numeral 60 indicates a substantially flat base plate orsupport member, upon which is fixed an angularly inclined shelf member62. The fixed shelf member 62 is substantially flat so as to support thebottom of container C. Gussets 64, 64 at opposite sides of the shelfestablish the angularity of the shelf relative to the plane of baseplate 60, and for securing the shelf thereon by means of screws 66 orother fastening devices. Uniformly satisfactory results have beenobtained in those instances in which the inclination of the shelf memberrelative to the base plate approximates 50 degrees.

A stationary yoke 68 disposed at right angles to the plane of shelfmember 62, provides a support means for nut 50, which is fixed thereon.The opposite arms 70, 70 of the yoke are spaced apart sufficiently toaccommodate between them the container C, and the height of the yokelikewise is dimensioned to accommodate the height of the container whenplaten 22 is fully retracted relative to shelf 62. The yoke is fixedrelative to shelf 62 and base plate 60, and may be secured to either orboth of these elements. As shown, the lower ends of arms 70 are bentinwardly as at 72 to engage slots 74 formed in the gussets 64, therebyto effect a firm connection between the yoke and the shelf member. Thecross-head of the yoke is denoted 76.

It may here be noted that container C will usually have its bottomclosure member 14 defined by a circumferential roll or bead which isslightly larger in diameter than the side wall of the container body.This roll or head may be utilized to hold the container centered orpositioned on shelf 62. For the purpose,

hooked lugs 78 may be applied to or struck from the metal of the shelf,to overlie and engage the extending bead or roll of the container bottomwhile said bottom rests upon the upper face of the shelf. By preference,three such lugs or hooks are provided (see 78, Fig. 5), two of which arelocated at opposite ends of a diameter of the bottom bead, while thethird is intermediate, and located lowermost near the plane of base 60.

The hooks or lugs are so arranged that the weight of the container tendsto keep the bottom bead engaged with the hooks or lugs at all times,though the container may readily be deposited upon or lifted bodily fromthe shelf so long as the platen 22 remains elevated and disengaged fromthe container lid.

As was previously mentioned, the container bottom preferably includes nopreformed delivery port, because with the use of the dispensing pressherein disclosed, advantages are gained by releasing the plasticcontents of the container through a substantially triangular deliveryport 80 which is located in the highest portion of the side walladjacent to the container bottom. Said port 80 may be formed very simplywith the use of the common triangular-cut beverage can opener 82 whichincludesa fulcrum lug 84 that hooks under the bottom bead 20 of thecontainer body in performing the puncture.

Port is advantageously located above the uppermost or forward edge 86 ofshelf member 62. In the preferred construction shown, the shelf memberis foreshortened so that a portion of the container bead 20 overhangsthe shelf edge 86 while the shelf supports the container. Port 80preferably is located at the highest point of bead 20, to include animaginary vertical plane that bisects the container body axially. As aresult, the delivery port is located conveniently in full view of thepress operator so that any extrusion of plastic material from the portis clearly observable and controllable with accuracy.

Another advantage of the arrangement disclosed, is that the uppermostportion of bead 20, being closely adjacent to an edge of port 80, servesas an effective automatic cut-off means for the plastic material, (FIGS.3 and 4), upon termination of delivery pressure generated by screw 24.That is to say, a clean and effective cut-off is obtainable when as inFIG. 3 a desired quantity of material has been dispensed by rotating thescrew 24 in one direction, followed by a limited reversal of the screwrotation as in FIG. 4, to terminate delivery of the material. Thematerial delivered may be deposited upon a portable pallet 88 or otherreceptacle held or supported beneath the level of shelf edge 86.

It is important to note that each successive delivery of plasticmaterial from container C is attended by a clean and accurately gaugedcut-off that is within full view of the operator; and by reason of theoverhang at shelf edge 86, there is precluded any liklihood of plasticmaterial reaching or adhering to any parts of the press apparatus.

When the supply of material within container C is exhausted, theoperator will rotate screw 24 in the proper direction for withdrawingplaten 22 and lid 30 from the container, so that the container may bedislodged from the embrace of hooked lugs 78 and replaced with a fullone. As was previously pointed out herein, and in the disclosure of theissued patent aforesaid, platen 22 when withdrawn or retracted, carrieswith it the lid 30.

The viscosity of the plastic material is between 18 to 36 mm as measuredon a I-Iumboldt Penetrorneter, and, as already noted, the inclination ofthe container is such as to preclude the gravitational discharge ofmaterial from opening 80, even though said opening is never closedduring the entire time when the container is as sociated with the press,as in FIG. 4, that is, even when the contents are not being pressureexpelled, as in FIG. 3.

The subject invention eliminates the need for dispenser valvesheretofore considered necessary in dispensers of heavy plasticmaterials.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for dispensing flowable, viscous, plastic material from aninclined, substantially rigid container having a side wall, a bottomwall, and a displaceable top frangibly connected to the side-wall andmovable through said container toward the bottom thereof, said apparatuscomprising a substantially flat, planar support base, an angularlyupwardly inclined, substantially flat, planar container support shelffixed on an upper surface of the support base and having a high edgespaced upwardly from the base, upstanding container bottomengagingsupport and centering means on said shelf engaging the bottom of acontainer and supporting the container on said shelf with the axis ofthe container inclined to the horizontal and with the bottom of thecontainer having a high side located forwardly of and above the highedge of the shelf, an open port in the side wall of the container at thehigh side of the bottom thereof, a one-piece, substantially U-shapedyoke with a bight portion parallel to said shelf and spaced therefrom adistance greater than the length of the container side wall and oppositedepending legs substantially perpendicular to the plane of the shelf andhaving free ends fixed to said shelf at opposite sides thereof, and anextensible and retractable press means carried by the bight portionsubstantially in the center thereof and movable into engagement with thedisplaceable top of the container to force the top through the containertoward the bottom thereof to expel the contents of the container throughsaid port, the angle of inclination of the container being such that thecontents of the container are not gravitationally discharged throughsaid port.

2. Apparatus as defined by claim 1, wherein the base is substantiallyrectangularly shaped and is normally horizontally disposed, a downwardlyextending gusset on opposite edges of the shelf, an outwardly extendingflange on a lower end portion of each gusset, fastening means extendedthrough the flanges into substantially the center of the base securingthe gussets and thus the shelf to said base with the shelf in saidupwardly inclined position and with a substantially free, unobstructedspace beneath the bottom of the container and in which space a pallet orthe like may be placed for receiving material discharged through saidport, the free ends of said legs of said yoke having inturned flangesthereon, said shelf having slots therein at opposite sides thereof, andsaid inturned flanges on said legs received in said slots securing saidyoke to said shelf.

3. Apparatus as defined by claim 2, wherein said press means comprises anut fixed on said bight portion, an elongate actuating screw threadedthrough said nut substantially coaxial with said container and havingone end thereof between said bight portion and said shelf, and asubstantially circular platen carried by said one end in a planeparallel to the plane of said top wall of said container for flatwisecontact with said top wall.

4. Apparatus as defined by claim 3, wherein said upstanding supportmeans on said shelf comprises a plurality of upstanding restraining lugseach including a hook engageable with a portion of the bottom of thecontainer to restrain the container against axial displacement uponwithdrawal of said pressure platen from said container.

5. Apparatus as called for in claim 1, wherein the press means comprisesa movable pressure platen dimensioned to flatly overlie, displace andadvance said top, and means for advancing and retracting said platen.

6. Apparatus as defined by claim 5, wherein said advancing andretracting means includes a nut on the bight portion of the yoke, and arotatable screw threaded into said nut and carrying the pressure platenat one end thereof.

7.-Apparatus as defined by claim 6, wherein is included cooperativemeans on the container and on said shelf, to preclude axial displacementof the container during retraction of the pressure platen.

8. Apparatus as defined by claim 7, wherein said cooperative meanscomprises at least one restraining lug upstanding upon the shelf andincluding a hook engageable with a portion of the bottom wall.

9. Apparatus as defined by claim 1, wherein is included cooperativemeans on the container and on said shelf, to preclude axial shifting ofthe container relative to the plane of the shelf.

10. Apparatus as defined by claim 9, wherein said cooperative meanscomprises at least one restraining lug upstanding upon the shelf andincluding a hook to engage a portion of the container near the bottomwall thereof.

11. Apparatus as defined by claim 1, wherein said angle of inclinationranges between 30 and 12. Apparatus as defined by claim 1, wherein saidangle ofinclination approximates 50.

1. Apparatus for dispensing flowable, viscous, plastic material from aninclined, substantially rigid container having a side wall, a bottomwall, and a displaceable top frangibly connected to the side wall andmovable through said container toward the bottom thereof, said apparatuscomprising a substantially flat, planar support base, an angularlyupwardly inclined, substantially flat, planar container support shelffixed on an upper surface of the support base and having a high edgespaced upwardly from the base, upstanding container bottom engagingsupport and centering means on said shelf engaging the bottom of acontainer and supporting the container on said shelf with the axis ofthe container inclined to the horizontal and with the bottom of thecontainer having a high side located forwardly of and above the highedge of the shelf, an open port in the side wall of the container at thehigh side of the bottom thereof, a one-piece, substantially U-shapedyoke with a bight portion parallel to said shelf and spaced therefrom adistance greater than the length of the container side wall and oppositedepending legs substantially perpendicular to the plane of the shelf andhaving free ends fixed to said shelf at opposite sides thereof, and anextensible and retractable press means carried by the bight portionsubstantially in the center thereof and movable into engagement with thedisplaceable top of the container to force the top through the containertoward the bottom thereof to expel the contents of the container throughsaid port, the angle of inclination of the container being such that thecontents of the container are not gravitationally discharged throughsaid port.
 2. Apparatus as defined by claim 1, wherein the base issubstantially rectangularly shaped and is normally horizontallydisposed, a downwardly extending gusset on opposite edges of the shelf,an outwardly extending flange on a lower end portion of Each gusset,fastening means extended through the flanges into substantially thecenter of the base securing the gussets and thus the shelf to said basewith the shelf in said upwardly inclined position and with asubstantially free, unobstructed space beneath the bottom of thecontainer and in which space a pallet or the like may be placed forreceiving material discharged through said port, the free ends of saidlegs of said yoke having inturned flanges thereon, said shelf havingslots therein at opposite sides thereof, and said inturned flanges onsaid legs received in said slots securing said yoke to said shelf. 3.Apparatus as defined by claim 2, wherein said press means comprises anut fixed on said bight portion, an elongate actuating screw threadedthrough said nut substantially coaxial with said container and havingone end thereof between said bight portion and said shelf, and asubstantially circular platen carried by said one end in a planeparallel to the plane of said top wall of said container for flatwisecontact with said top wall.
 4. Apparatus as defined by claim 3, whereinsaid upstanding support means on said shelf comprises a plurality ofupstanding restraining lugs each including a hook engageable with aportion of the bottom of the container to restrain the container againstaxial displacement upon withdrawal of said pressure platen from saidcontainer.
 5. Apparatus as called for in claim 1, wherein the pressmeans comprises a movable pressure platen dimensioned to flatly overlie,displace and advance said top, and means for advancing and retractingsaid platen.
 6. Apparatus as defined by claim 5, wherein said advancingand retracting means includes a nut on the bight portion of the yoke,and a rotatable screw threaded into said nut and carrying the pressureplaten at one end thereof.
 7. Apparatus as defined by claim 6, whereinis included cooperative means on the container and on said shelf, topreclude axial displacement of the container during retraction of thepressure platen.
 8. Apparatus as defined by claim 7, wherein saidcooperative means comprises at least one restraining lug upstanding uponthe shelf and including a hook engageable with a portion of the bottomwall.
 9. Apparatus as defined by claim 1, wherein is includedcooperative means on the container and on said shelf, to preclude axialshifting of the container relative to the plane of the shelf. 10.Apparatus as defined by claim 9, wherein said cooperative meanscomprises at least one restraining lug upstanding upon the shelf andincluding a hook to engage a portion of the container near the bottomwall thereof.
 11. Apparatus as defined by claim 1, wherein said angle ofinclination ranges between 30* and 70*.
 12. Apparatus as defined byclaim 1, wherein said angle of inclination approximates 50*.